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Local rides: Traralgon to Warburton (via Noojee & Powelltown) & return (via Neerim South &am

Jan 01, 2012

The ride out through Tyers and Yallourn North to the Moe Willowgrove Road down to the Mount Baw Baw Road and then on to Neerim South is one of our regular rides but we never cease to enjoy it. The farmland quickly gives way to forest and huge timbers and tree ferns and mountain streams. Always a cool shady place to ride on a hot day and an alternative route to see Norm Snr.

Noojee is a good stop for a coffee or a more substantial meal if you want and the Tool-shed is a favourite bar for many Melbourne riders as well as the Outpost being a fine dining option. Both good destinations.

After the 1939 bushfires which decimated the logging community the local service station apparently sold the most petrol in the state as it supplied the many logging trucks that at the time ran on petrol and were retrieving the burnt timber.

From there we headed for Powelltown and Yarra Junction then on to Warburton. This is a beautiful ride with big sweeping corners (some tight ones as well but well signed) and just an awesome experience of being in the great Australian bush. Cooler temperatures than being in the city or in lower altitudes but warmer on the valley floor than higher up the hills.



A memorial to the timber getting history of the Powelltown area with a timber tram in the foreground and the remains of a massive log beside the bikes

Once we hit Yarra Junction we headed along the Warburton Highway for Warburton and enjoyed following the Yarra River which is a galloping crystal clear mountain stream at this altitude unlike the slow moving muddy river which passes through Melbourne. This is a spectacularly beautiful valley but I wouldn’t be keen to be here on a total fire ban day as there are few options for getting out. The road is a great ride as it is all the way from Noojee.



The Yarra river behind the shops in Warburton which is clearly a popular swimming and picnic spot for the locals….amidst small voices telling how ‘freezing’ the water was…..hardly surprising as it starts close by in the mountains

After lunch we headed back again and struck off on the Nayook Powelltown Road to Neerim Junction to fuel up and get a cold drink (35 + degrees today) then on to Neerim South via the Main Neerim Road to see Norm Snr then struck off on Bloomfield Road to the Highway and on to Yarragon for another cold drink before we headed back home. MUCH hotter back down on the valley floor but a cool wind greeted us after Moe and then home. The ride up the highway is an easy one (duplicated from Nilma to Traralgon).



Part of the main street of Yarragon late in the day. We managed to get there just before the cafe shut so we got a hot chocolate and also a parking spot. Earlier in the day the street is usually full of cars and people

Tips to remember:

Most of the roads in this vicinity have large logging trucks using them all year as well as milk tankers so make sure you (as in all of your body) sticks to your own side of the road. This is a particular issue on the Moe Willowgrove Road down to the Mount Baw Baw Road where the road is narrow with sharp turns.

Heavy rainfall on the Moe Willowgrove Road has potential for gravel across the road surface on corners as well as large amounts of waters from natural springs flooding across the road. Can also be icy in winter.

The Mt Baw Baw Road has a couple of rock fall areas which are signed and more likely to be an issue in the wet weather. Wet, slippery and icy patches can be a challenge in the winter.

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Tyers – Small town
Fuel: Including Premium Unleaded 7 days BH
General Store / Supermarket: Small (in servo)

Yallourn North – Small settlement
Food: Hotel
General Store / Supermarket Small

Willowgrove – Small settlement
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket Small

Hill End – Locality only – no services

Noojee – Small settlement
Accommodation: Basic hotel, B & B & Camping Ground
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available, café, bar and fine dining restaurant
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Piedmont – Locality only – no services

Powelltown – Small settlement
Food: Hotel

Gilderoy – Locality only – no services

Three Bridges – Locality only – no services

Gladysdale – Small settlement only – no services

Yarra Junction – Small town
Fuel: Big enough town to be available but not on main road so unsure
Accommodation: Limited Hotel B & B and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Reasonable size

Wesburn – Small settlement only
Food: Hotel

Millgrove – Small settlement only – no services
Accommodation: Guest house

Warburton – Small town
Fuel: Big enough town to be available but didn’t see it on the main road so unsure
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and B&B
Food: Hotel, Multiple Cafes and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Nayook – Small settlement only – no services

Neerim Junction – Small settlement
Fuel: Available including Premium Unleaded 7 days BH
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Neerim – Small settlement only – no services

Neerim South – Small town
Fuel: Available 5 ½ days BH
Food: Hotel, Café, Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Crossover – Locality only – no services

Nilma – Small settlement only – no services

Darnum – Small settlement
Fuel: Available 7 days BH
Food: Hotel, Café, Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available

Yarragon – Small settlement
Fuel: Available 7 days BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and B&B
Food: Hotel, Cafés and restaurant
General Store / Supermarket: Small
Other: Galleries and boutique shopping

Trafalgar – Small town
Fuel: Available 7 days BH
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Hotel, Cafés
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large

Moe – Good sized town
Fuel: Available 7 days including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and B&B options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Small and large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Morwell – Large town
Fuel: Multiple including Premium Unleaded, 7 days and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH


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